Category Archives: Intermediate

Learn to Emboss with a Stencil

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by Martha Lucia Gomez

Purple and lavender Hello Friend handmade card featuring Memento Inks by Tsukineko available from Imagine.

Hello Fellow Crafters! Today, I am sharing some of my favorite stencil techniques with you! Layering stencils are trending now and we can create beautiful designs and make techniques with the different patterns. I am sharing an all textured card with a “Hello Friend” greeting. This month our challenge is stencils and the Color of the Month is Lavender.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes

Directions


Step 1

Select the color of cardstock and the stencils that you want to use. I am using Wisteria Wonder cardstock and the Layering Dahlia A & B Bundle Stencil from Altenew. Use the layers with different colors of ink. In my sample, I am using Memento Ink in Lulu Lavender and Grape Jelly. Apply the soft color on the stencil with more free areas and the dark color on the detailed stencil. To create the first layer of texture, place the stencil over the stenciled layer in the corresponding place.


Step 2

Create a special sandwich on your big shot to make the embossing. Remember that the pressures of cutting machines are different so you need to test and listen to your version. In my big shot the correct sandwich is:

  • Closed Platform
  • Rubber Pad
  • A piece of cardstock (shim)
  • Stenciled card layer
  • Stencil
  • Embossing Plate

Paste the ensemble sandwich easily through your die cut machine to emboss the stencil design and voila, you will have the first textured.


Step 3

Now it’s time to create the traditional embossing over your card. To make this I am using a Stencil Word from Jillibean Soup. Secure the stencil over the stenciled layer. Apply VersaMark directly with the ink pad over the “Hello”. Remove the stencil and cover the stamped word with Embossing Powder in White. Melt the powder with the heat tool. Paste the stenciled layer over a whisper white card base. Stamp a complement of the word and paste it over the card with On Point Glue.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Altenew – Layering Dahlia A & B Bundle Stencil
  • Hampton Art – Hello stencil from Jillibean Soup
  • Big Shot – Rubber Mat
  • Glue Dots
  • Cardstock – Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White
  • Big Shot Die Machine
  • Masking Tape

Create a Vibrant Art Journal Page to Tell Your Story

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by Iris Rodriguez

Create a Vibrant Art Journal Page to Tell Your Story

Have you ever been attracted a shape, a pattern, an image, a technique and you don’t know why? For me, it’s been Asemic writing and abstract figures. Asemic writing is a wordless form of writing. It makes words look real, but it’s not meant to be read. This is a perfect way to express that you can write your own story every day and that nothing is set in stone. Imagine’s irRESISTible Pico Embellisher is a very fine mark-making tool and a medium perfect for Asemic writing. See how I make this vibrant journal page.

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 1.5 hours

Directions


Step 1

Spray the watercolor paper with water. Then brush on the All-Purpose Ink in Rose Pink, and Tropical Lagoon. Also, Brush on Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray in Dandelion. Do not blend or the colors will turn into a mud color. Rather color in separate areas. You can lightly blend the edges with a brush. Dry the paper.


Step 2

Use an InkBlushers to stencil in patterns with VersaFine Clair in Tulip Red, Monarch and Warm Breeze. You can use any stencil pattern you happen to have.


Step 3

To get a dimensional look, like you see on the top right of the of the image above, stencil the shape with a dark color, then place the stencil over the same area and slightly offset it, stencil a lighter color ink.


Step 4

The Dina Wakley stencil contains the positive and negative shapes. The cutout (positive) piece is considered a mask. Place the mask on the substrate. Make an outline with the VersaFine Clair in Nocturne using a Sponge Dauber.


Step 5

Continue to add to the shadows around the silhouette.


Step 6

Place a few drops of All-Purpose Ink in White onto your craft matt and pounce the Inkblusher into it and color inside the silhouette. This ink is opaque, so a couple of drops is more than enough. This will make the silhouette standout, while slightly making out the color and patterns underneath.


Step 7

Make Asemic writing marks inside the silhouette with the IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher in Tuxedo Black. It helps if you think of several parts of a phrase, song, poem and abstractedly and write it out.


Step 8

On a piece of white cardstock paper, stamp out a sentiment, then cut it out. Glue onto the page. Draw a frame with the black IrRESISTible Pico Embellisher for added interest.

Thank you! If you would like to learn more about stenciling then please see a full tutorial: Learn the Basics of Stenciling. 

Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • Watercolor paper
  • Crafter’s Workshop – Rebekah Meier stencil; Star and Flower
  • Dyan Reaveley’s Dylusions Arrows stencil
  • Dina Wakley Casey & Penelope stencil
  • Alphabet stamps

Make a Faux Batik Prints with GooseBumps Texture Spray

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by Arjita Sepaha Singh

Make a Faux Batik Prints with GooseBumps Texture Spray + Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray

Batik is a technique of wax-resist dyeing applied to whole cloth this technique originated in Indonesia. I tried to mimic the batik effect using Goose Bumps Dauber and used it to create a resist. I used a leaf stamp and dabbed it with GooseBumps and created an impression on white paper. Then I added firework sprays to get the beautiful green background. I also heat embossed some leaves on vellum and adhered them on to the card to finish it.

Supplies

Imagine
Other

Create a Bright and Fun High Contrast Card Design

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by Elina Stromberg

Create a Bright and Fun High Contrast Card Design

Best summer craft projects are fun and easy to make. On a sunny summer day, you don’t want to spend time in collecting a large number of tools and materials, but rather create something beautiful quickly, using just a few basic supplies you’ll always have at hand.

Skill: Beginner
Time: 30 minutes per card

Directions


Step 1

For these flower cards, you first create your own patterned paper using repeated floral images and your favorite ink colors. Then you decorate the front of your card with a panel cut from the self-made patterned paper, add a stamped sentiment on top, and your card is ready! Isn’t that just the perfect recipe for a summer day craft project!


Step 2

Using white cardstock, die-cut, punch, or free-cut with scissors a pile of flowers. Color the flowers with your favorite ink colors. For these sample cards, I used two blue Memento inks: Bahama Blue and Danube Blue. If you want to let the ink colors mix, mist the flowers with water and let dry.


Step 3

If your flowers have separate centerpieces, color them, too. Glue the inked flowers on a piece of white cardstock. Leave some white space between the flowers. Let dry.


Step 4

Using scissors or a paper trimmer cut a panel from the decorated flower paper. Mat the panel on a piece of matching color cardstock, and glue on the card front. Stamp “Thank You” or “Hello” with VersaMark and heat emboss sentiment on a piece of solid color cardstock. Glue panel on a card front.

 

Supplies

Imagine

Other

  • Scissors
  • Paper trimmer
  • Glue
  • StudioCalico – ‘Thank You’ stamp
  • Sizzix – ‘Hello my Friend’ stamp, Floral die
  • Cardstock – Dark Blue, White
  • Cardbase – White

 

Learn How to Stencil a Mixed Media Card

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by Kassy Tousignant

Learn How to Stencil a Mixed Media Card

Mixed media techniques aren’t only for canvas and 3-D objects. You can make beautiful mixed media cards too! Fireworks Shimmery Craft Spray and Delicata ink look amazing together on this 6×6 inch card.  Just add a few embellishments on top of the gorgeous, textured background to make a stunning card that anyone would be happy to receive.

Supplies

Imagine
Other
  • Maya Road – frame embellishment
  • Prima – flowers
  • Heidi Swapp – embellishments
  • Gold string
  • Paper butterfly
  • Liquitex – ultra matte gel
  • Neenah Cardstock
  • TCW – stencil
  • SnipArt – chipboard
  • Daler Rowney – white gesso

 

 

 

One Card – Lots of Techniques

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by Nadine Carlier

Bee Kind Card by Nadine Carlier Imagine Crafts. StazOn in Jet Black ink

Mixed media cards do not always have to be bulky. I used several different techniques and mediums like Fireworks! Spray, irRESIStible Pico Embellishers and StazOn Ink on my card, yet the card is still flat enough to put in an envelope and mail to a friend.  Watch my video below to see how I did it.  Enjoy!

Skill: Intermediate
Time: 30 minutes + drying time

Supplies

Imagine
Other

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